Guided can opening key assembly



Dec. 6, 1955 R. s. HARDEN 2,726,007

GUIDED CAN OPENING KEY ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 5

R.S.Harden IN V EN TOR.

Dec. 6, 1955 s HARDEN 2,726,007

GUIDED CAN OPENING KEY ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R.S.Harden IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent Ofifice 2,726,007 Patented Dec. 6, 1955 GUIDED CAN OPENING KEY ASSEMBLY Ralph S. Harden, Dubuque, Iowa Application January 26, 1955, Serial No. 484,124

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-52) This invention relates to canned goods particularly of the type sealed in a can with a narrow metal strip extended over an edge of a can and also over a portion of a flange or wall of a cover of the can, and in particular a key having a slotted shank extended from a handle with a disc adapted to be placed on the shank and positioned against the end of the can to provide a guide for retaining the key a constant distance from the end of the can whereby winding of the strip on the key is straight with the coils of the strip formed in a common plane so that the comparatively fragile thin metal strip does not tear or break, and also to provide a guard for protecting fingers of an operator gripping the handle from being cut by sharp edges of the strip being removed from the can and also from sharp edges of the cam and cover from which the strip is being removed.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for forming a guide on a key type can opener whereby a thin strip of material secured to a can with solder or the like may be removed without the strip being torn or broken.

It is diificult to remove the thin strip of metal with which various types of cans are sealed without tearing or breaking the strip as such keys twist and wind the strip in a spiral or cone causing an uneven force to be applied to the strip, and unless the force is applied in a plane perpendicular to the wall of the can the strip tears or breaks.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates providing a disc on a shank of a can opening key whereby the disc is adapted to be placed against the end of the can to space the key from the end of the can so that the strip being removed will be rolled in a common plane.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a can opening key and a disc to provide a guide therefor, whereby the disc is adapted to be retained in a constant position on the key in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination can opening key and a guide therefor wherein both the key and guide are adapted to be temporarily retained on the end of a can so that the key and guide may be shipped and sold with the can.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a disc adapted to be positioned on the shank of a can opening key whereby means is provided for retaining the disc in a fixed position on the key and wherein the key is adapted to remove strips spaced different distances from the end of the can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a guided can opening key in which the key and guide are adapted to be temporarily attached to the end of a can and in which the key and guide are adapted to be readily assembled by the average housewife.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a can opening key having a disc providing a guide thereon in which the disc provides means for retaining the key parallel to the surface of a can as a sealing strip is removed from the can.

And a further object is to provide a can opening key having a guide thereon in which the device is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a key having a shank with a longitudinally disposed slot therein and having a handle at one end of the shank, a disc adapted to be positioned on the shank of the key, and means for retaining the disc in position on the shank whereby the disc engages the end of a can and forms a guide for holding the shank of the key parallel to the surface of the can so that a sealing strip of the can may be removed without tearing or breaking;

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an eievational view illustrating the key with the guiding disc omitted.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a disc adapted to be used on the key shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an assembly view showing an upper corner of a can with a disc providing a guide on the key and with the sealing strip partly wound on the key.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing a key and a disc for providing a guide secured by drops of solder to the end of a can.

Figure 5 is a view looking upwardly toward the lower end of a key, with the parts shown on an enlarged scale, showing a portion of a'can with part of the sealing strip thereof wrapped around the key and with a disc forming a guide also positioned on the key.

Figure 6 is an elevational view similar to that shown in Figure 1 illustrating a modification wherein notches are provided in sides of the key for holding a disc and the slot in the. shank of the key extends through the extended end thereof.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a further modification wherein a disc is provided with a slot that extends through one side thereof.

Figure 8 is an assembly view illustrating the use of the key shown in Figure 6. V

Figure 9 is an end view similar to that shown in Figure 4 showing the key of Figure 6 and the disc of Figure 7 secured by drops of solder to the end of a can.

Figure 10 is a view looking upwardly, similar to that shown in Figure 5 also with the parts shown on an enlarged scale, and showing the key and disc of Figures 6 and 7, respectively.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above referred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration, and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner de parting from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in. the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout, and in which the numeral 10 refers to the invention in its entirety with the parts as shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, and numeral 12 to the invention with the parts as shown in Figures 6 to 10, inclusive.

Although the key may be made of stock of any suitable shape or size, it is preferred to use round bars or wire with one end of the wire formed to provide a handle having a gripping bar 14, and the other flattened to provide a shank 16 which is rectangular-shaped in cross section.

In the design shown in Figures 1 to 5, the bar 14 is connected to the shank 16with an inclined section 18, and the opposite end 20 is bent under to facilitate gripping the handle with the thumb and forefinger of the hand of an operator. The shank is also provided with an elongated slot 22 for receiving the end of a sealing strip, and lugs 24 and 26 which provide stops for a disc 28, the disc having an opening 30 therein which is adapted to receive the shank.

The key is adapted to be temporarily secured to an end 32 of a can 34 by a drop of solder 36, and the disc 28 similarly secured to the end 32 with a drop of solder, as indicated by the numeral 38. In use the key and disc are removed from the end of the can, the disc placed on the key, and with the disc positioned against an end of a can an extended end 40 of a sealing strip 42 is inserted in the slot 22 of the shank of the key. With the parts assembled in this manner the sealing strip is drawn from meeting edges 44 and 46 of the can and cover, respectively, as the key is rotated, and rolled around the shank 16, as shown in Figure 3. The disc provides a guide maintaining the roll 48 of the strip a constant distance from the end of the can and also retaining the shank of the key parallel to the surface of the can, whereby the strip is rolled in a common plane and the possibility of tearing or breaking the strip is reduced to a minimum.

In the design shown in Figures 6 to the key is also formed with a bar 50, similar to the bar 14 and a shank 52, similar to the shank 16, and one end of the bar 50 is connected to the shank with an inclined section 54. The opposite end 56 of the bar 50 is bent under, similar to the end 20 of the bar 14, and the edges of the shank are provided with notches 58 and 60 that are positioned to receive edges 62 and 64 of a small inner end 66 of a slot 68 of a disc 70, shown in Figure 7. The slot 68 is provided with diverging sides 72 and 74 to facilitate inserting the key therein. The extended end of the shank 52 is provided with an elongated slot 76, similar to the slot 22 of the slot 16, except that the slot 76 extends through the end of the shank, so that a sealing strip rolled on the shank 52 may readily be removed therefrom.

In the design shown in Figures 6 to 10, the key is temporarily secured to an end 78 of a can 80 by a drop of solder 82, and the disc 70 is similarly secured to the end 78 with a drop of solder, as indicated by the numeral 84.

The device of this design is used similar to the device shown in Figures 1 to 5, in that the key is inserted in the slot 68 of the disc 79 with the edges 62 and 64 in the notches 58 and 60, respectively, and with the parts assembled in this manner the disc is placed against the end of a can and an end 86 of a sealing strip 88 inserted through the slot 76 of the shank of the key, and upon rotation of the key the sealing strip is drawn from meeting edges 90 and 92 of a can and cover, and rolled on the shank to form a roll 94. With this design, the rolled strip is readily removed from the key by sliding the roll 94 from the end of the shank with the end 86 passing through the end of the slot in the shank. The key is, therefore, adapted to be washed and reused as often as may be desired.

The disc provides a guide for maintaining the key a constant distance from the end of the can whereby the sealing strip is rolled in a common plane, reducing tearing and breakage to a minimum, and also provides a guard protecting the fingers gripping the handle from being cut by sharp edges of the sealing strip or parts of the can from which the strip is being removed.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner, and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish, and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details and parts, such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A key for opening a container having a tear strip circumferentially of the container adjacent to and spaced from one end of the container; said key comprising a manipulating element having a shank and said shank having opposing ends, a head portion formed integrally on one end and extending laterally equidistantly to opposite sides of the shank, said other end of the shank being free and being formed with an axially extending centrally disposed slot which extends through said end and is adapted to receive the tear strip, a guide disc having a fiat face adapted to bear against the end of a container, said disc having a central opening and having a radial slot converging toward said opening and extending through a portion of the peripheral edge of the disc, said disc being laterally passed onto the shank which is guided into the opening by said slot and said shank having opposing sides formed with notches to receive the opposing bounding side walls of the opening and lock the disc on the shank.

2. A key device for opening a container having a tear strip circumferentially of the container adjacent to and spaced from one end of the container; said key device comprising a manipulating element having an elongated shank formed at one end with an integral head portion and at the other end with an axial slot which extends through said end to pass the shank onto and receive a tear strip, a guide disc having a flat face adapted to bear on the end of a container, said disc having a non-circular center opening and having a radial slot outwardly diverging from said center opening and extending through a portion of the peripheral edge of the disc for the lateral passage of the disc onto the shank and said shank having a non-circular section provided with opposing sides having notches for receiving the opposing side bounding walls of the center opening and locking said disc against movement axially or rotatably relative to the shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 555,940 Fellows Mar. 10, 1896 2,261,330 Belleter et al Nov. 4, 1941 2,300,270 Wakefield Oct. 27, 1942 

